Square



April 23, 1935. E, FAUST 1,998,574

S QUARE Filed Oct. 7, 1931 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SQUARE Carl E. Faust, Chicago, Ill. Application October 7, 1931, Serial No. 567,459

6 Claims. (01. 33-115) This invention relates generally to squares of the type used by carpenters and other-craftsmen, and more particularly to a folding device.

It is the general object of the invention to -provide a new and improved square of simple construction and capable of having one leg thereof folded with respect 'to theother when not in use.

Other objects are to provide a folding square comprising two pivotally connected members one ofwhich is provided with a recessfor receiving the other when theparts are: folded together; .to provide such a square embodying a pocket for holding a scratch-awl and so arranged that'the awl cannot fall outwhenthe square is folded; and to provide animproved device of this character equipped with leveling tubes.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: V

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the invention. I

Fig. 1 is an end view.

the parts folded Fig. 2 is a similar view showing together.

Fig. 3 is an edge view along the: line 3-3 of Fig. 1'. v

Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating another form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a section along the line li -4 of Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of still an other form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a section alongthe line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

For purposes of disclosure I have illustrated in the drawing and shall hereinafter describe in detail several different embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formsdisclosed but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

As illustrated in the drawing, the invention comprises generally a pair of members arranged to form the two legs of a square, onehaving a recess therein into which the other part may be folded, and means for pivoting the members together on an axis substantially bisecting the angle between the legs of the square. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a substantially rectangular member in is arranged to form one leg of the device, and a second member I I has a thinner blade or leg portion l2 and a connecting portion member H forreceiving a scratch-awl 2!.

I3 extending from one end thereof. The member H-is pivotally connected to the member 10 by means of a. diagonally positioned pin ltwhich extends through the member III at an angle of 45 with'respect to the side edges of said member and passes'through the connecting. portion 13 of the member ll... Thus one member may be swung from the open operative position, as shown'in Fig. 1, to a closed or folded position, as illustrated inFig.2..

In the form illustrated in Figs; 1 and'2 the .end of the connecting portion l3 is'circular in shape and the member ID is provided with an'ir'regularly shaped aperture or recess-l5 arranged to receive the entire'memberll, as illustrated in Fig. 2, said recess having a transversely extending slot portion it into which the connecting portion l3 fits when the square is open. It will be'readily apparent. thatby soforming the parts and'connecting them. together they may be folded to a convenient form when not inuse. 7 Furthermore shoulders I6 formed on the member I I fit'against the adjacent edge portion I! of the member ID when the device is open; and cooperatewith the pivot pin 14 to secure the parts accurately at right angles to each other. Preferably a rib l8 is secured to or formed on the. member I0 on the under side and along the inner edge thereof. This rib serves as a guide during the use of the square and also limits the pivotal movement of the member ll.

A pocket 28 maybe formedin therend of the As illustrated herein this'pocket has a wide end portionfifor receiving the head of the awl and is so positioned that when the parts are folded together as illustrated in Fig. 2 the end portion 22' of the member it serves as a means for retaining the awl in the pocket. In addition leveling or bubble tubes 23 and 24 may be provided on the side and end of the member In so as to enable the device to be used for leveling purposes.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 4, a member I9 is provided with a recess [5 for receiving a pivoted member II. In this form, however, a connecting portion l3 on the end of the member I I is in the form of an arcuately shaped arm a pivot pin is extending through both members so as to pivot them together on a 45 axis. Pref I erably, yieldable detent means .is provided for securing the parts in their open and folded posito project out a limited distance. The arcuate connecting portion 13 is provided with shallow recesses 28 in which the balls engage. It will be evident that whether one detent device is provided or two the parts will be effectively held in both their open and closed positions. The leg portion of the member H is preferably thinner than the member ii! soas to facilitate the use of the device.

As illustrated in Fig. i, leveling tubes 23' and 24 are shown positioned along the side and end of the rectangular portion of the aperture 15. By so positioning the tubes they are efiectively protected when the square is folded.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, a member Iii" forming one leg of the square is substantially thicker than the corresponding members illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, and a recesslfi is provided which extends approximately two-thirds of the way through the member. This recess has a circular portion 30 formed witha spherical bottom and arranged to receive a ball 31 onthe connecting portion i3" of a second leg member I I. In order to provide the necessary clearance for the member H" during its swinging movement, a portion of the member ID" is cut away at 33. In this form of the invention the recess l5" extends all the way to the right-hand end of the member I0, as shown in Fig. 6. Preferably a semicircular groove 32 is provided in the member 10" so as to facilitate grasping the end of the 'member I I" when in its folded position.

I claim as my invention:

1. A square comprising, in combination, a pair of members forming the legs thereof, means connecting said members pivotally together on a 45 angle so that they may be moved relatively to each other from a folded parallelposition to an open right angle operative position, one of said members having .arecess therein arranged to receive the other member when in its folded position, and having a transversely extending slot arranged to receive a portion of said other member when in its open position. i

2. A square comprising, in combination, two members formingthe legs thereof, one of said members having an irregular aperture therein comprising a circular recess adjacentone end, a slot extending transversely between said recess and the edge of the member and a slot extending longitudinally away from said recess, the other member comprising a circular portion arranged to fit in said recess, a narrow neck portion arranged to fit in one of said slots, and a wider blade portion, a pivot pin extending diametrically through said recess and through the circular portion of said one member, and a rib extending along one edge of said member across said transverse slot.

3. A square comprising, in combination, a first substantially rectangular member forming one leg, a second member forming the other leg and having a. connecting portion extending from one end thereof, said first member having a recess therein into which said second member fits so that the parts may be folded together and into part of which the connecting portion fits when the parts are opened, means pivoting said second member to said first member for swinging movement on an axis positioned 45 with respect to the first member, and yieldable means for engaging and securing said second member in its open operative position.

4. A square comprising, in combination, a first substantially rectangular member forming one leg, a second member forming the other leg and having a connecting portion extending from one end thereof, said first member having a recess therein into which said second member and its connecting portion fits so that the parts may be folded together and also having a recess into which said connecting portion fits when the parts are swung open with respect to each other, means pivoting said secondmember to said first member for swinging movement on an axis positioned 45 with respect to the first member, and means for engaging and securing said second member in its open operative position.

5. A square comprising, in combination, two

members forming the legs thereof, one member having a recess arranged to receive the other so that they may be folded together, the one surrounding. the other, and means pivotally connecting said members together on a 45 axis so that when open the members form a right angle square.

6. A square comprising, in combination, a substantially rectangular member forming one leg thereof, a second member forming the other leg and having an arcuate portion extending from one end, said first-member having a recess therein arranged to receive said second member, and a pivot pin extending through said first member and the arcuate portion of said'second member at an angle of 45 to said first member so that the second member may be swung from a open operative position to a folded position in said recess.

CARL E. FAUST. 

